Harness



a Sheets-Sheet i. J. MEALEY.

' HARNESS (No Model.)

Patented Oct. 5

I I Jakarta "5 2 5 -(PmkMe 7 wfliimf.

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. MEALEY.

HARNESS (No Model.)

Patented Oct, 5,1897.

11116721301: 757l "Sta (m (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. MBALBY.

HARNESS.

No. 591,222, Patented Oct. 5, 1897'.

m: Mourns PETERS c0 PHOTOYUTML. WASHINGTON, o c,

UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.-

JOHNSTON MEALEY, OF HOWARD LAKE, MINNESOTA.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,222, dated October5, 1897.

Application filed April 13 1 8 9 6.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, JOHNSTON MEALEY, of Howard Lake, Wright county,Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHarnesses, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved harnessthroughout and one that shall be constructed without the use of eithersewing or rivets and in which the various parts of the harness shall besecured together in a much more durable and efficient manner than iscustomary in the ordinary forms of harness.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bridle and bittherefor.

Still another object is to provide an improved composite collar and hamewhich shall be of simple construction, which shall be adapted to fit theshoulders of the horse upon which it is to be worn, and which willprevent all chafing, such as is brought about by the use of the ordinarycollar.

Another object is to provide improved means for carrying the breeching.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved harness. Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing a bridle in use. Fig. 3 is aperspective view,and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, of the bit. Figs. 5 and 6 are details ofmeans used for connecting and carrying parts of the harness. Fig. 7 isan elevation of myimproved combined collar and hame. Fig. 8 is a sectionthereof on the line $00 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse section. Fig.10 is an elevation showing a slightlyqnodified construction of collarand hames. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are details of portions of thecollar. Fig. 15

is an elevation showing the breeching-carrier.

I use the same principle and method of construction substantiallythroughout the entire harness, and one of the important features of theconstruction is that neither sewing nor riveting is employed forsecuring any of the parts together.

I will proceed to describe the harness, beginning with the bridle, andthence taking up in order the various parts which cooper- $erial No.587,379. (No model.)

Beyond or outside of.

These rings are also secured by passing) through openings in the bar 3,but said openings are at an angle, substantially and preferably a rightangle, to the openings which receive and retain the rings 5, asindicated in the various views in the accompanying drawings. The variousstraps forming the bridle, together with the checkrein, are attached tothe rings 5, while the small rings 7 are intended only to receive thereins. A single strap 13 has its opposite ends secured to the rings 5,and this strap forms the headstall or main part of the bridle, beingadapted, when in use, to pass over the top of the horses head, as showninFig. 2 of the drawings.

In place of the usual throat-latch and browband I provide a single strap15, that is secured to the headstall13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

For securing the straps 13 and 15, forming the headstall andthroat-latch, together I provide the buckle shown in'Fig. 6, which hasthe oppositely-arranged bars 27 and 28, one of the bars 27 beingprovided with the stud 29 and one of the bars 28 being provided with thestud 30. The bars 27 and 28 are not arranged in the same plane, so thatby passing one of the straps first over two of the bars as, forexample,over'the two bars 28and V firmly secured together in the mannershown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. These two partsthe headstall andthroat-latch already described-together with the bit to which theheadstall is secured, form the main part of the bridle; but in additionIprefer to employ about midway between the rings of the bit an improvedform of check, which is also shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The main part of the check consists of the single strap 31, which passesfrom the saddle. to a point in the rear of the bridle, where it isdivided, and its ends pass to the opposite rings 5 upon the bridle-bit.

I provide a check-carrier consisting of two straps 33, each having oneend secured to the ring 5. These two straps are brought together a shortdistance above the rings or and the part of the strap 15 forming thebrowband and are then carried side by side over the crown of theheadstall. The ends of the straps 33, back of the crown portion of theheadstall 13, are separated, and each end is provided with the carriershown in Fig. 5. This consists of a metal frame 43, having its side barsconnected at their upper and lower edges by the cross-bars 44. Two ofthese bars are provided with the oppositely-extending studs 45, both ofwhich extend inward. The frame is also provided with the loop 46, withinwhich is journaled the roller 47. The carriers are arranged upon theends of the straps 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the checkrein 31passes through said carriers over the rolls 47 and is buckled into thering 5, as shown in said Figs. 1 and 2. The reins 481 extend to theouter or small ring 7 upon the I bridle-bit, and they may be eitherbuckled directly to .said ring, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, orfor the purpose of giving additional leverage upon the bit the rein mayi be carried through the ring 7, passing over; the roll 9, and beconnected to a loop 49 on the collar, as shown in Fig. 1. l The collarand hames are combined in one: structure, whichis shown in detail inFigs. 7, I 8, and 11. As here shown, each part of the 5 collarconsistsof a light metallic frame formed 1 of the side bars 50 and thecross-bars 51. The cross-bars 51 are arranged alternately at i the upperand lower edges of the side bars 3 50, so thatthey permit the leathercovering 1 52 to be passed alternately above and below 5 said bars, asshown in Fig. 8. Beneath said i frame'and secured thereto and cove-redby; said leather covering 52 is the flexible pad? 53, which fits uponthe shoulder of the horse f when the collar is in use. Themetallic framej is concave in cross-section, as shown in de-? tail in Fig. 11, so thatthe leather covering 52 i and the pad 53 are given a concave form by 3being secured to said frame in the manneri' described. The upper part ofthe metallic frame is provided with the projections 54, E and a verticalpin 55 is arranged in openings in said projections, being free to turnin said openings or the frame being free to turn upon said pins. Each ofsaid pins is provided at its upper end with the ring 56, and a loop 49 iis also secured upon said pins, and to this: loop'the end of the reinmay be attached, as already described and as shown in Fig. 1 of The loop49 may also be used the drawings.

vtion.

to carry the rein when the end of the rein is attached to the check inthe manner shown in Fig. 2.

In connection with the collar already described I use a neck-pad 57,which may be an ordinary form of zinc neck-pad provided 1 withsnap-hooks 58, by means of which it is connected to the rings 56, or itmay be a suitable flexible pad, as shown in Fig. 10, secured in positionby a strap 59 and suitable buckles 89. At the lower end of each of theframes forming the collar I provide a loop-link 61, (shown clearly inFig. 8,) the narrow part of the loop being secured upon a hook 62 at thelower point of the frame. I prefer to use also the loop-link 61 on thepins 54 at the top of the collar when I use the flexible pad 57. (Shownin Fig. 10.)

Each of the metal frames forming the sides of the collar is providedwith two cross-bars which are extended out beyond the others, and avertical pin or bolt 63 is arranged to pass from one of these bars tothe other, being screwed into one of the bars, and thus being removablefor the purpose hereinafter stated. Arranged upon this pin is a block64, through which the pin loosely passes, and said block is providedwith a ring 65, which carries the breast-strap.

I may provide any suitable means for securing the tug to the collar, asshown in Figs. 1 and 7, and for changing the draft I may remove the pin63 and place the loop 67 above the block 64, thereby carrying the draftto a higher point on the collar. This will be found exceedinglyadvantageous in manyinstances.

The collar shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 differsslightly in its mechanical construction from that shown in Figs. 7, 8,and 11. As here shown, the side bars 50 are of hollow form, being eithercircular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 14, or being substantiallyof D shape in cross-section, in which case the back or under side may beopen, as shown in Fig. 9. In either instance the upper ends of the barsare brought together, as shown in Fig. 13, and are projected into a tube76, as shown in Fig. 13, where they are secured, preferably, by beingbrazed in posi- The upper or front side of the tube is depressed, asshown in Figs. 10 and 12, forming a pocket for the reception of the pin55. The projections 54 extend across this pocket, as shown in Fig. 12,and are provided with holes to receive the pin 55.

It will be understood that the pin 55 will be provided with a suitabletransverse pin for looking it in position, and by providing the pin 55with a series of holes its position relative to the collar and theposition of the collar in relation to the neck-pad may be adjnsted.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9, 10,

and 14 I preferably arrange the bars 51 all in .said plane, thus forminga sort of latticework, to the under side of which the leather covering52 is secured. This covering may be secured in any suitable manner tothe framework. I may secure it by the inwardlyprojecting lug 77,arranged at the inner edge of the bar 50 and arranged to hold the edgesof the leather covering 52, as shown in Fig. 14. i The pad 53 is securedto the leather covering by any suitable means. In some instances Isecure it by means of the hollow metallic rivets 78, arranged as shownin Fig.

.9. These rivets will be arranged so as to in Figs. 7 and 10, whichreceive the martingale-straps .80, as shown in Fig. 1.

The saddle which is used with this harness consists of the upper orrigid part 71 and the hinged side part 72, which are provided with .theloops 73, through which passes the rein 48,

as shown in Fig. 1. A strap 7i passes over the frame of the saddle, anda suitable pad 75 is arranged beneath the frame and the strapu Thissaddle is shown and described in detail in a separate applicationheretofore filed by me on the 10th day of February, 1896, Serial No.578,651.

The short tug 81 is secured to the collar at its forward end in themanner already described, and upon this tug is arranged the trace-buckle82, by which the end of the trace or long tug-is secured to the shorttug. The strap or band of the saddle is also secured to thetrace-buckle, as is also the saddle-girth. The trace-buckle consists ofa metallic frame having suitable loops S3 at the upper and lower side,to which are secured the straps of the saddle and the girth, as shown inFig. 1.

The saddle-girth consists, preferably, of a single strap 91, .which issecured to the saddle in the manner described in my former application,hereinbefore referred to. The

billet 93 is secured to the under loop 83 on the trace-buckle and heldin position by means of the loop 89. For connecting the end of the girth92 to the end of the billet 93 I use a buckle 94, such as is shown anddescribed in an application for patent heretofore filed by me,

point where the crupper is buckled 011 or it may extend to the breeching, as shown in Fig. 1, or separate straps 97 may be buckled to theback-strap with the crupper 98, as shown in Fig. 15, the straps 97 beingconnected to the breeching by thebreeching-carrier 99. By means of thestraps 97 andthe loops '89 the breeching at each side of the center andat the rear of the horse is suitably supported. This prevents it fromdropping too low around the horses legs and prevents the-horse fromsittingdown on the breeching and thus breaking the breeching or thehip-straps or their connections.

The ends of the breeching are provided with the carriers 103. Thiscarrier consists of a rectangular frame provided with a loop 107. Intothe loop 107 is secured the holdback-strap 108, the hip-strap 109, and.the trace-carrier 110. The holdback-straps 108 are secured in the loop107 by means of the buckle 17. The same buckle is also employed forsecuring the hip-straps 109 to the loop 107 and so is the trace-carrier110. The trace is supported by the metallic carrier 99. The hip-straps109 are connected to the back-strap by means of the buckle shown in Fig.6. This buckle securely fastens the two parts together, as shown in Fig.15. The back-strap 96 is adjustably connected to the saddle by beingpassed through the loop upon the rear of the saddle and turned back uponitself and being connected to the combined buckle and loop 110.

For securing together the end of the backstrap 96, the crupper-strap 98,and the rear breeching-carrying strap 97 I make use of the buckle 17,which I also use upon the rear end of the martingale-strap, as shown inFig. 1, and also upon the forward end, as shown in the same figure, andI also use the same buckle on the martin gale-carryin g strap 80, asshown in Fig. 1. For securing the ends of the breeching holdback-strapsto the ring 112 on the rear end of the martingale I prefer to use thesnaps 113, and I use the same snaps preferably upon the ends of thereins, as shown in Fig. 1.

I use the buckle 17 upon the rein where I wish to secure a cross-line tothe main rein, the position of this buckle for this purpose being shownin Fig. 1. i

It will be seen that the entire harness is constructed without the useof stitchingor riveting,all of the parts being secured together by meansof the connections herein shown and described.

The combined collar and hames is one of the important features of theinvention, and it is especially important that the two parts of thecollar be connected to the neck-pad by means which permits a pivotalline or axis.

This permits a freedom to each part of the construction of the bridleand the arrangement of the checkrein in connection therewith compels thehorse to hold his head straight, and thus enables one to teach a younghorse to carry himself properly.

The advantages of other features of the invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing detailed description thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a harness, the bit, comprising the bar 3 havingholes extending through it near each end, at right angles to each other,the rings 7 passing through the holes that are nearest the end of thebar, and the larger rings 5 passing through the inner holes, for thepurpose set forth,

2. In a harness, the combination, with the bit, provided with the bar 3having two holes passing through it near each end thereof, said holesbeing arranged with their axes at right angles to each other, of therings 7 passing through the outer holes and provided with the rolls 9,and the larger rings 5' passing through the inner holes, for the purposeset forth.

3. In a harness, the combination, with the bit, consisting of the bar 3having two holes at each end, with their axes at right angles to eachother, of the rings 7 passing through the outer holes, and the largerrings 5 pass ing through the inner holes, the headstall and checkconnected to the inner or larger rings 5, and reins connected to saidrings 7, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a harness, the combination with the bit, consisting of the bar 3provided with holes at each end thereof, with their axes at right anglesto each other, of the rings 7 passing through the outer holes and thelarger rings 5 passing through the inner holes, of the check 31consisting of the strap having a fork arranged at a point that will comesubstantially over the neck of the horse when the device is in use, theends of said check being connected to said rings 5, the check-carriers33 having their ends connected to said rings 5 and passing over the topof the headstall,

and their free ends forming carriers, upon the opposite sides of thehorses neck, for said check 31, for the purpose set forth. 5. Thecombination, With the bit, consisting of the bar 3 having rings 5 and7passing through openings in'said bar. that are at right angles to eachother, of the single continuous strap 13 forming the headstall andconnected to said rings 5 by suitable buckles 17, the single continuousstrap 15 forming the browband and the throat-latch and connected to saidstrap 13 at right angles thereto by the buckles formed of therectangular frames 27 28 having open centers, one of said bars 27 beingprovided with the pin 29, and one of the bars 28 being provided with theoppositely-projecting pin 30, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the bit, consisting of the bar 3 provided withholes at right angles to each other in its ends, of rings7 passingthrough the holes in the bar and the larger rings 5 passing throughinner holes therein, the headstall consisting of a single strap havingits ends connected to said rings 5 by means of the buckles 17 thecontinuous strap 15 forming the brow-band and throatlatch and connectedto said headstall13 at right angles thereto by the rectangular frames 2728, provided upon the part 27 with the stud 29 and upon the part 28 withthe oppositelyproject-ing studs 30, the checkrein 31 consisting of asingle strap divided at a point which in use will be substantially overthe neck of the horse, and having its ends also connected to said rings5 by buckles 17 the check-carrier 33 having its lower ends connected tosaid rings 5 by buckles 17, the two parts of said check-carrier beingunited at a point below the brow-band and passing over and beingconnected to the top of the headstall, the free ends of saidcheck-carrier being provided with the rectangular frame 43, providedwith the cross-bars 44 and secured to said check-carrier by the studs45, said frame 43 having the loops 46 provided with the rolls 47 overwhich said check passes, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the collar-frame consisting of the side bars50, transverse bars 51 connecting said side bars, of a flexible coveringpassing through said frame above and below said cross-bars, and asuitable pad secured thereto.

8. In a harness, the combination, with the metallic collar-frame,transversely concave in itsinner side, of the pad 53 secured in concaveform with the inner surface of said collar-frame, for the purpose setforth.

9. The combination, with the concave frame, consisting of the side bars50, the transverse bars 51 connecting the upper and lower edges of saidside bars, of the leather covering threaded or woven through said frameabove and below said cross-bars, and the pad secured thereto.

10. The combination, with the neck-pad, of the two parts of the collar,and vertical pivots connecting said parts of the collar with saidneck-pad, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination, with the neck-pad, of the collar consisting of theindependent frames, each arranged to turn or swivel upon itslongitudinal axis, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination, with the neck-pad, of the collar-frames, the pins55 upon which said frames are adapted to turn, and means connecting saidpins to said neck-pad.

13. The combination ,with the collar-frames provided with the transverseprojections 54, of the pins 55 extending through openings in saidprojections, means for securing said pins in position, and thelink-loops 56 connecting said pins to the neck-pad.

14. The combination, with the collar-frame having the transverse bars51, of the pin 53, two of said bars 51 being arranged to receivesaid'pin 53, and the ring-block 64 and the loop 67 arranged on said pinand interchangeable thereon, substantially as described.

15. The combination, With the neck-pad, of the collar-frame adjustablymounted upon the pins 55 upon which said frames are free to turn, andmeans connecting said pins with said neck-pad.

16. The combination, With the collar-frame having the side bars 50,brought together at their upper end and secured in the tube 76, theupper portion of said tube being indented or recessed, the transverseprojection 54, and the pin 55 mounted in openings in said projections,means for adjustably securing said pins in position, the neck-pad, andmeans for securing said neck-pad to said pins, for the purposespecified.

17. The combination ,With the open concave collar-frame, the leathercovering 52 secured to said frame, the pad 53 arranged under saidleather covering, and the ventilating-tube 78 securing said pad to saidcovering.

18. The combination, with the back-strap and breeching, of thebreeching-carrier straps 97 and the crupper 98, said straps 97 and saidcrupper 98 being secured to said back-strap by the same buckles 17 forthe purpose specified.

19. The combination, with the back-strap, of the hip-strap 109 securedto said back-strap by means of the buckle 28, the ends of said hip-strapbeing connected to the end of the breeching by means of the buckle 17,and the carriers 103, and the breeching-carrying straps 97 connected tothe ends of the back-strap by the buckles 17 and connected to saidbreeching at opposite sides of the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of April,A. D. 1896.

JOHNSTON MEALEY.

Witnesses:

A. 0. PAUL, M. E. GOOLEY.

